Hierarchies in the brain exist due to lower connection costs, as revealed by a recent study. This finding challenges the traditional view that hierarchies are formed to manage complexity. The study, which utilised a new mathematical approach, discovered that the brain’s hierarchies, from cells to circuits to regions, are a result of a natural tendency to minimise the cost of connections between neurons.
The research team, led by Danielle Bassett, used graph theory to model the brain’s structural connectivity. This model, comprising nodes and edges, allowed the team to calculate the cost of brain’s connections. They found that the cost was minimised when the nodes were organised hierarchically.
The team also discovered that the cost of connections could predict the level of hierarchy in different regions of the brain. This finding suggests that the brain’s structure is not solely determined by the need to process complex information, but also by the need to keep the cost of connections low.
This ground-breaking study could have significant implications for understanding brain disorders. It could help to explain why certain areas of the brain are more susceptible to disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease, as these areas have a higher connection cost. This could, in turn, lead to more effective treatments for these conditions.
The team’s findings also challenge the traditional view of the brain as a static entity. Instead, they suggest that the brain is a dynamic system that continually adapts to minimise connection costs. This could have profound implications for our understanding of how the brain works.
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